The Scam Uncovered
After receiving the report on the status of the Yo Trade Union, Iris's lips curved into a smile as she sat at the desk in the private office.
A few months had passed since the union was formally established and began operations.
At last, she had completely loosened the thread of doubt she had placed on Edgar.
The revelation of the latest scam—high-grade iron ore disguised as mid-grade—had been decisive.
That man's eyes were not to be trusted.
Iris felt immense joy at having fully come to trust a truly gifted talent.
Smart.
“Great Chief, Princess Freesia has arrived.”
While she was still savoring the moment of pleasure, a servant from outside announced that Freesia had come.
Iris kept her smile on her lips and spoke with her voice.
“Come in.”
“Yes.”
The door soon opened, and Freesia entered with a polite bow.
“I’m here.”
“Hmm. Come quickly. What brings you here today?”
Before Iris could offer her a seat, Freesia sat in the chair across from her.
“Does my daughter need a reason to come visit her mother? You’re busy anyway.”
“Do I look like a useless woman who has nothing to do?”
“Really? I’m not sure.”
Freesia asked with a face of genuine confusion, and Iris let out a deep sigh.
“No. You know, right?”
“Fine. Then what?”
“You can’t say anything to your mother?”
Iris gave her a light scolding and laughed.
A faint curve also appeared at the corners of Freesia’s lips.
“Hmm. It’s not that my daughter visits for some urgent business. Would you like to drink some tea?”
“Give me one cup.”
“Okay. Wait a moment.”
Iris stood up, walked over to the stove, and began boiling the tea herself.
The moment she touched it, the water in the teapot became hot on its own, and faint wisps of steam rose from the spout.
She had warmed the water purely through Ju-sul without lighting a fire.
Clink, clink. Iris brought two cups of well-steeped herbal tea and placed one in front of Freesia.
“Drink.”
“Yes. I’ll drink it carefully.”
Freesia carefully lifted the teacup and slowly sipped the tea.
It had no bitter aftertaste and was fragrant; truly delightful.
It was practically heaven compared to the herbal tea she had been drinking.
“Huuu… It’s far more delicious than that herbal tea.”
Freesia set the cup down and let out a hot breath.
How shocked she must have been, for the bitter taste of the herbal tea still lingered vividly in her memory.
Iris set her own cup down and spoke lightly.
“Even now, after all this time?”
“That much shock must have been it.”
“I can’t believe it. Then what about the alcohol?”
“I know you don’t like alcohol much.”
“That’s right. That’s what I thought.”
The unique fragrance was truly wonderful.
Iris felt genuine pity for her daughter who avoided a medicinal wine so readily.
She even thought that if she started tasting it once, it might become far more dangerous.
There was a saying that you can’t stop stealing once you start late.
Freesia pondered for a moment, then told the reason she had come to see her mother.
“By the way, the next union will depart in ten days.”
“Ten days. You must have worked hard.”
“Worked? It’s just riding the horses and coming back.”
“That road must be quite tiring.”
Iris worried about her daughter yet could not bring herself to stop her.
Though weak, it was still an achievement, and in the long run it would prove helpful.
She might even leave the precedent of keeping the path open even if humans were disliked.
She could also gradually strengthen military power through the iron ore or other goods she had purchased.
On top of that, by becoming Edgar’s wife, Freesia had gained additional benefits.
Things like the unexpectedly good ginseng and other roots were perfect examples.
You could simply eat them, or brew them into alcohol to enhance flavor and luxury.
Their medicinal effects were extraordinary.
Thanks to them, news had spread that the clan leaders of each region were extremely satisfied.
There was nothing else they could do.
“Be careful and come back. Think about your own life and the lives of those who follow you before considering profit.”
“Yes. I’ll remember.”
Money or my daughter and people first.
Freesia nodded willingly, agreeing with that thought.
*
“The next transaction would be better if we waited a bit longer.”
They had been traveling for several days, pulling the wagon loaded with silk.
From inside the carriage, Freesia looked at Edgar and offered him a rest.
“Are the people making them tired?”
“Hmm. It seems like they can hold up, but fatigue must be building up.”
Freesia recalled the faces of the silk producers she had seen directly.
Their eyes had sparkled with pride that they were serving the princess and earning glory.
Even among that fatigue, their expressions had shown exhaustion.
“Then of course you should rest. I truly feel sorry for making you work so hard.”
Edgar noticed his lack of consideration and hung his head weakly.
A trace of pity appeared in Freesia’s eyes as she watched.
“It’s not your fault. Anyway, give them a rest, and let’s rest too. You’ve been coming and going too busily lately.”
“Yes. That’s a good idea.”
Only after Freesia gently comforted him with a voice full of worry did Edgar raise his lowered head.
The regret that had been melting in his expression had faded quite a bit.
Ironically, suggesting to rest had lifted his spirits.
From then on, they spent a peaceful time and arrived near the village of Paestum.
It was a transaction spot where they had made a prior appointment with Hans.
The other Yo members had scattered to various places in the village, taking small bribes.
They gathered information by giving something to the villagers who were not wealthy.
Freesia and Edgar set up a spot in the open area to wait for Hans, who would arrive soon.
They had not yet shown themselves, but the appointment was today.
So he would definitely appear before the day ended.
He had been cheated once, but greed would not have disappeared.
‘That’s right.’
Edgar nodded while looking at the distant group approaching.
Since the village was not large, it was easy to tell who was coming from afar.
“They’re coming.”
Freesia also muttered while looking in the same direction as Edgar.
In her eyes too, the distant group approaching seemed like Hans’s union.
“Yeah.”
“Won’t they try to cheat again?”
Freesia asked worriedly, and Edgar laughed helplessly.
“After falling for it once, are you going to fall for it again? Then that guy must be really amazing.”
“Right? Well, after seeing Edgar’s ability, no one would try that again. They would have known he could see through the lie at a glance.”
Even if they didn’t know his ability properly, it was clear he was not to be trifled with.
So they would not think of cheating.
After drawing that conclusion, Freesia plucked out the sprout of anxiety that had sprouted in her chest.
“I’m sorry for making you wait.”
Soon, the leader of the group, Hans, came forward alone and bowed his head.
From the moment he dismounted, his expression, gestures, and voice all conveyed genuine remorse.
That was why Edgar had almost shown arrogance.
“It’s fine. We just arrived. You don’t need to feel too sorry.”
“Ah… That’s fortunate. I apologize again.”
He had already given a bad impression, and now he was late?
Hans had decided he must move forward more quickly today.
Because the customer today was special, preparation had taken more time, but it was just an excuse.
“As an apology for my mistake, I will reduce the price a bit. Please allow it.”
“No. What else…?”
Edgar frowned at the bewildered Hans.
Reducing the price was good, but the sight of him bending so far was suspicious.
Was he trying to erase the debt from this deal, or was he trying to pretend the previous wrongdoing had never happened?
If the latter, it was utterly shameless.
‘I’ll figure it out then.’
If he really came out like that, Edgar could change his mind later.
Edgar had organized that complicated thought.
“Okay. Then shall we check the count first? Where are the goods?”
“Ah, follow me.”
Hans led the way as if waiting for them, and Edgar and Freesia followed behind.
Hans’s union, like the Yo union, was located in a suitable open area near the village.
The carriers were always the same, so it was always that person, but today the people Edgar saw were strangely unfamiliar.
They were people who covered their faces as if wearing robes and hoods, just like in the Yo union.
Edgar briefly looked at them, then shifted his gaze to the iron ore in the wagon.
By now, the scattered Yo members had gathered together.
“Today there are quite a few upper-grade ones.”
“Yes. That’s how it is.”
Edgar muttered while holding one iron ore in his hand, and Hans quickly answered.
It was to avoid any bad feelings in case the answer came even slightly late.
Edgar finished checking the quality of all the iron ore and stepped down from the wagon.
“All good items. Load them please.”
“Yes.”
The waiting Yo members answered briefly, then began loading the iron ore from the wagon into their own wagons.
The wagon that had been placed in the open area was now right in front of their noses.
Thanks to that, the loading process was extremely smooth.
“Well then…”
After all the iron ore was loaded, Edgar searched his pockets and took out his money pouch.
He opened the pouch and took out gold, silver, and copper coins mixed according to value,
“Hmm…?”
Just as he was about to hand the money to Hans,
Someone in robe attire had suddenly approached from beside and grabbed his wrist.
“What is it?”
“Uh… I-I mean…”
Edgar asked with a furrowed brow, and Hans looked extremely flustered.
It was not anger he was shouting.
‘Flustered? ’
Edgar calmed his mind while watching Hans panic.
No subordinate would ever react like that.
Then who could it be?
While Edgar was pondering the hood-hidden forehead, the one grabbing his wrist removed the hood with one hand.
The moment the face hidden by the hood was fully revealed,
Edgar’s brows furrowed even more.
“It’s been… a while?”
The person in robe attire was, of all people, Megus.
“The seeker who once defied the dark will now kneel.”